As summer blends into autumn, the days become shorter and the air a little colder. Open windows are replaced by drawn curtains. Heaters, fireplaces, stoves and fuel burners spark into life. We create a cosy and comforting place to escape the chill.
However you’re heating your home in the months ahead, it’s always beneficial to know more about the appliances, fuels and tools available to you. After all, a little knowledge goes a long way – helping you to make better heating choices. Today we’re going to focus on fuel, specifically smokeless coal. This purer, cleaner and more efficient coal could be exactly what you’re looking for. So sit back, relax and read on. By the end of this guide, we’re sure you’ll know whether smokeless coal is the best fuel for you.
What is a log burner?
The best place to start is at the beginning. A log burner (otherwise known as a wood burner) is an easy-to-use heating appliance. How does it work? Simply pop some logs, wood chunks, or heat logs into your log burner’s firebox and light the wood. As the fuel burns it releases heat, warming up the surrounding environment.
What kinds of log burners are out there?
Log burners have come a long way since their inception. Pre 1998, they relied on a singular phase of air intake during combustion, causing higher emissions and lower heat efficiency. These days, all new log burners are classified as clean-burning. This means that they separate the combustion process into two stages, taking in air at each stage. The result? A more efficient burn with lower emissions and increased heat. There are two types of clean-burning log burners – catalytic and non-catalytic. Both types of burner maximise the potency of the combustion process, whilst simultaneously reducing creosote emissions and increasing burn time.
What's Smokeless Coal?
The name says it all really. Smokeless coal is simply a coal that doesn’t give off any visible smoke when ignited. Essentially, it emits a super minimal amount of smoke below a predetermined threshold.
Why do we Need Smokeless Coal?
Traditional coal (also known as house coal or bituminous coal) is still the go-to fuel powering many aspects of life, from the industrial and commercial, to the domestic. Despite its many benefits, bituminous coal does have its downsides. In fact, it is one of the key factors behind the global reduction of air quality. As the need for cleaner and more efficient fuels has increased over the last 70 years, the need for a new type of coal rose to the fore. Introducing smokeless coal.
How is Smokeless Coal Made?
Smokeless coal is produced by mixing Anthracite (a purer base carbon) and other natural binding agents into an extremely fine powder. The mixture is then placed into moulds and pressed at very high pressures. Once the process is complete, we obtain ‘pillow-shaped’ pieces of coal with a uniform shape and density.
Quick note here; yes smokeless coal is a cleaner fuel, but that doesn’t mean that it’s synthetic. The reality is that smokeless coal is 100% natural. The secret to its power lies in the unique anthracitic carbon base. Let’s go a little deeper.
Smokeless Coal Versus Regular Coal - What Are The Benefits?
Kinder to the Environment - Smokeless coal produces about 80% less emissions and 40% less carbon dioxide in comparison to normal coal. This is because smokeless coal contains a higher percentage of fixed carbon and a lower percentage of volatile compounds – so you can enjoy a cleaner burn. And yes, smokeless coal is fully authorised for use in smoke control areas
More Efficient - Who doesn’t want more for less? Smokeless coal burns longer and hotter than normal coal – clocking in an approximate burn time of 5 -6 hours. So you’ll use far less smokeless coal to obtain the same amount of warmth in your home when compared to traditional coal.
Economical - Add all these benefits together and one thing becomes clear; smokeless coal is simply better value. Thanks to its longer burns and hotter temperatures, a 10kg bag of smokeless coal will last a lot longer than a 10kg bag of regular coal. So you wont need to replenish your stock as often.
Is Smokeless Coal Better Than Wood?
Both smokeless coal and wood are brilliant fuels. It’s not so much a question of which one is better; but rather which one is best for you. Some like the look and crackle of a roaring log fire. Others might be after the highest heat possible. Ultimately, the fuel you choose is determined by your needs, preferences and situation. All that being said, here are two points to consider when comparing smokeless coal to wood.
- Smokeless coal is a more energy dense fuel than wood, meaning it burns efficiently, and produces more heat per kg. If you’re after more bang for your metaphorical buck, then perhaps smokeless coal could be a better option.
- Burning kiln dried wood or compressed heat logs is cleaner and kinder to the environment. While the emission levels of smokeless coal are low, they’re still not quite as low as those of dry woods with sub 20% internal moisture level.
Is It Possible to Burn Smokeless Coal in a Multi-Fuel Stove?
Yes of course! You see, smokeless coal is very versatile, so you can burn it in all kinds of things from cookers and room-heaters to fireplaces, firepits and multi-fuel stoves.
How Do I Set Up & Burn Smokeless Coal in a Multi-Fuel Stove?
Brief disclaimer; there are many different ways to set up and light your smokeless coal. Here’s one quick method to get you going:
- Open the door to your multi-fuel stove (obvious but true).
- Place an evenly distributed layer of smokeless coal on the stove base.
- Next pop a few firelighters on top of your layer of smokeless coal.
- Then add a healthy dose of kindling to your smokeless coal pile.
- After this, position a few additional pieces of smokeless coal around the periphery of your coal base.
- Ignite your firelighters.
- Patiently wait for the fire to spread as the coals catch.
- Finally shut the door (You’d be surprised how many people forget this step).
Big K Smokeless Coal is a Cut Above Convention
We’re very much obsessed with fuel as many of you know. So you can rest assured that our smokeless coal is some high calibre coal. In fact, it is Ready to Burn certified by DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), meaning it meets all established quality and emissions criteria. So
when you get your coal fire going, you’ll know that you’re playing a small part in reducing your impact on air quality and the emissions from heating your home.
Go Smokeless Today!
You can buy all your smokeless coal direct from bigkproducts.co.uk. Just go to the heating tab, check out the ‘solid fuel’ section and fill your soon-to-be-warmer boots. Grab a 10kg bag for £11 and a 20kg bag for £21.
Want bulk and value? Grab a pallet and save up to 25% on 10kg bags and 25% on 20kg bags.
Is Smokeless Coal The Best Fuel For Me?
As we mentioned before; it’s up to you to decide. We’re here to lay out the facts, giving you the knowledge to make up your own mind. What we can say is that smokeless coal is cleaner, more efficient and more powerful than conventional coal without question. Smokeless coal is also extremely versatile, so you can use it for multiple purposes in many different appliances. Perhaps in this instance, the choice is a bit of a no brainer.